Sounding board

In these difficult times, the BBC could do with a few friends on the Culture Select Committee, and has ended up with a new bunch of so-so Tories, for bonkers chair Julian Knight to bend to his will.

Likely new members (expected to be confirmed on Monday) are on the way down politically. Steve Brine, Tory MP for Winchester, is one - BoJo expelled him last September for voting to block a no-deal Brexit. And sadly, like many committee members, he might claim to be a broadcast expert - this faradiddle is from his website....

He is a former radio journalist having spent time with the BBC where he was one of the organisations youngest reporters and producers in BBC Local Radio at the age of 18. He spent periods with BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Southern Counties Radio as well as contributing as a freelance reporter to Radio Five Live. Steve also spent a year working in Chicago, USA with the Tribune Media Group's WGN Radio. 

Also on the way down is Damian Green, Tory MP for Ashford. He was a hack with the BBC Financial Unit (serving mainly radio) from 1978 to 82. As an advisor to Major, he advised clipping the BBC's wings back in 1992.

And we get another Damian - Damian Hinds, Tory MP for East Hampshire, once flying moderately high as Secretary of State for Education, with slightly wayward hair.

Back to patronise the BBC again is the SNP's Laird of Broadcasting Expertise, former breakfast tv presenter John Nicolson.